Someone once said that nobody wins in a tie. Liar! The Chico State men’s soccer team hosts Cal State Stanislaus Wednesday on Senior Day, and a win or tie would sew up the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title for the Wildcats.
Of course, the Wildcats, ranked No. 13 in the nation and No. 2 in the West Region at 12-4-0 overall and 10-4-0 in the CCAA, stand to gain even more with a win. For one, a win would send their five seniors - Zach Bradford, Josh Johnson, Ross Judge, Ryan Nevarez, and Leo Zarate – out in style in the final regular-season home game of their careers. A win would help solidify the Wildcats’ standings in the NCAA West Region rankings, which will ultimately decide the four teams from the West that will advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament. A win would bolster the Wildcats’ chances of earning the top seed in the looming CCAA Championship Tournament. And a win would be Chico State’s 11th in conference play, matching the 1998 team for the most since the Wildcats joined the CCAA that season.
Wednesday’s matchup is scheduled to kick off at 4:30. But arrive early to show your appreciation to the seniors. It will be the first of two between Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus this week. They’ll face off in Turlock Saturday at 7 p.m.
Chico State currently leads second-place Cal State Stanislaus by four points in the race for the North Division crown. (Teams earn three points for a win and one for a tie). Third-place Sonoma State is also lurking just five points back. Cal State San Bernardino, ranked No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the West, holds a one-point margin on the Wildcats in the race for the CCAA Championship Tournament’s top seed.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State L.A., Cal Poly Pomona, and UC San Diego are also in the mix for the four CCAA Championship Tournament berths.
Click here to view all of the Wildcats CCAA Championship Tournament scenarios.
Click here to view the NCAA West Region Rankings.
Click here to view the NSCAA National Rankings.
The Wildcats have allowed just 15 goals in 16 matches and have allowed one or fewer in 13 of their 16 contests. Offensively, they’re led by the dynamic duo of Ferid Celosmanovic and Chris Akwaja, who have combined for 19 goals. They each rank among the CCAA’s top five in goals.
Cal State Stanislaus enters the match sporting an overall record of 9-4-3 and CCAA mark of 8-4-2. The Warriors rank third in the conference in goals per match at 2.06 and fourth in goals allowed at 1.06. They also rank first in the league in fouls committed, just ahead of Chico State. So the match could be a rough-and-tumble one, especially with all that is on the line.
